Purchasing 92 735i

[ronco]

As you can see I am a newbie, i am looking at a 92 735i. Is the 92's a decent year for BMW working out bad bugs? Any tips while inspecting perspective BMW's?

[jarhed]

Yeah,

1. Check out the AC system for leaks (have one right now).

2. If the engine is anywhere near 175,000 miles, check the head gasket. You'll need to replace it sooner or later anyway. Costs $1500 here in Southern California. DO IT YOURSELF.

3. Make sure sunroof opens and closes without trouble.

4. Look for oil leaks from the oil pan.

5. Make sure all dash lights are working. (Pain in the a** to fix)

6. If it has an integrated cellphone, it's now just a showpiece (nobody is selling analog service anymore).

7. Check for noise in the door hinges and movement (up and down) while the door is open. The doors are heavy and rust will eventually take over and make the hinges fall off.

8. Check the power seat adjustment. All the way back, all the way forward, etc. Include the electric headrests in your inspection. The cables tend to break on occasion.

9. Check operation of CD changer (if any) and make sure owners manual includes stereo security codes, otherwise the first time you disconnect the battery, you'll never be able to use the radio again.

10. Ask when the last time the cabin filter was changed (real pain in the *ss to get to but it is a $20 DIY project).

11. Usual inspection of brakes, rotors, master cylinder, etc. These parts are expensive.

12. Look for leaks and rotted ends on ALL of the coolant hoses. I just paid $106 for a branching hose that leads from the thermostat to the firewall.

Other than the little regular maintenance stuff, it is a really nice car. Mine is a 92 735iL. Leather is still in great condition (except for the cracks in the drivers seat) and rides nice, but I have a leak in my evaporator that I'll be attempting to seal with ProSeal. The AC parts for these cars (as well as everything else) are VERY expensive.

Check Bavauto.com after you view/test drive the car to peruse the prices on some of the parts you think you might need. Then check Ebay for the same parts.

If I think of anything else, I'll add to this. Hope it helps! ;-)

[ronco]

Thanks for all the info, it is a real big help, i am a Chevy man, so the German cars are new to me. Your list will make it easier to inspect.

I talked to the owner about known defects and up to date repairs made.
1. Replaced drive line
2. replaced motherboard
3. replaced belts
4. driver seat head rest cable replaced
Current broken stuff
1. Passenger seat head rest doesn't move
2. A/C blows cold
3. Driver door lock doesn't close other doors when pushed down, though the door key will do it.

Web site of the car
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...or=&cardist=24

[jarhed]

Nice looking car! The wheels on that were VERY expensive. Did you pull up the seat covers on the front to look at the condition of the leather? BTW, that door lock problem is expensive to fix at the shop. I had my driver door mechanism replaced because it was broken. It costs over $500. It's all electronic. You can possibly fix it yourself but you should take your time and make sure you have a decent manual.

At 165,000 miles, you may want to plan on replacing the head gasket soon. You can probably do it yourself, but it's quite a process.

The head rest problem can get expensive but I've been told you can do it yourself.

The A/C blows cold, so I suppose it's not a broken item? It's good he replaced the drive line. I just spent about $1800 having it done.

Lets face it, the 92 7's are old cars. The bugs are definitely going to pop up, but the satisfaction and image of driving that beautiful car around has always made it worth the trouble for me. Personally, I think you can get a better price.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...&category=6009

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...&category=6009

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...&category=6008

Always good looking 7's and 5's on Ebay Motors. The 3's are just scrumptious! ;-) I'll be buying a 3 next.... FROM EBAY!